Free Website vs. Facebook – Which First?

Let us assume that you have decided to start your very own business. Most businesses today are run online as it is the era of the internet. So what is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of an online business, a website or social media? Some people might recommend your very own website while some might say having a Facebook page is better. Both of these options have advantages as well as disadvantages of their own. So, given a choice, which one would you choose first? Let us have a closer look at both the options.

Starting a Facebook page is the easiest thing in the world. First, you need to make sure that you have a personal account through which you can login. If you don’t have one, it’s fine. You can always register yourself. Once you have done that, all you need to do is click on “create a page” and follow the guidelines. It’s as easy as that. Now, the biggest advantage of having a Facebook page is that it already has a database of millions of people. It is like a goldmine of potential customers, just waiting to be struck. All you have to do is reach out to them and introduce your product or service. And what’s more? It is completely free.

This advantage is not available with a website. A website will never give you a ready base of audience to communicate with. Social media also makes it possible for a brand to study the trend that is prevailing. We all know that trends change every now and then and Facebook is the best way to track them. This allows a brand to adapt with the latest changes and get innovative with the needs of the ideal customer. Brands can also check out what its competitors are doing and use that information to stay in the competition. But Facebook is only the start. In order to establish long term presence and build a loyal consumer base, your brand needs a website.

There are also a few disadvantage of having a Facebook page. Let us not forget that we a building something on someone else’s platform. Social media platforms can change policies, suddenly start charging you for your page or even shut down one fine day due to losses or some other reason. The point is that you don’t have complete control over the long term implications of having a Facebook page for your brand. Besides, nothing spells ‘professional’ like a website. A consumer will always buy from a brand that has its very own website. Somehow, a URL sounds cooler to convey than a Facebook page.

A website, however, must always be the base of your brand and social media should only be used to promote it. Of course, there are many brands that are built only on social media, but having a website is a good option, especially if it is absolutely free. There are also a lot of web hosting data centers that offer free registrations.

So it is safe to conclude that having a website should be the first choice and social media should only be used for marketing and customer servicing purposes. Besides, once you contact people on Facebook, you need a website or some other page that has established your brand image. This will get the consumer quickly involved in the workings of your brand. So, given a choice between free website vs. Facebook page, which one would you go for first? I think the answer is pretty much clear to you now.